Uganda

Sign up with a safari company (see below) to take you on a counterclockwise tour of western Uganda’s national parks. Starting in Kampala, here’s where to go.

Murchison Falls National Park
The Uganda Wildlife Authority’s riverboat gets up close to hippos and crocodiles.

Kibale National Park
Thirteen primate species live here, including blue monkeys, gray-cheeked mangabeys, and 1,450 chimpanzees.

Rwenzori Mountains National Park

The Rwenzoris are Africa’s highest mountains, with multiple 15,000-foot peaks.

Queen Elizabeth National Park
Hike past crater lakes to the Ishasha sector and see lions lounging in fig trees.

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

This park is home to about half of the world’s 750 remaining mountain gorillas.

Abacus African Vacations, 256/312-261- 930, abacusvacations.com

The Uganda Safari Company, 256/414- 251-182, safariuganda.com

Wild Frontiers, 256/414-321-479, wildfrontiers.co.ug

This story appeared in the September/October 2011 issue.